Billingham Stars 8-3 Solihull Barons
By Matt Johnson, Barons Press Officer

Despite a heavy defeat at the hands of league leaders Billingham Stars, the Barons continue the chase to beat the drop after relegation rivals Nottingham Lions and Coventry ENL Blaze both suffered weekend losses.

Solihull remain two points behind the Lions after they succumbed to an 8-6 defeat by Whitley Warriors with two games in hand and are a further two points adrift of the Blaze with a solitary game advantage after they too lost out 3-1 to Sheffield Spartans.

A collective 53 penalty minutes did the Barons no favours at all in their bid to clinch a surprise away victory over the league’s finest side.

The table-topping Stars took full advantage to take a 5-0 lead heading into the end of the second period – FOUR coming courtesy of the away side’s indiscipline on the power play.

The Barons did manage to net three goals of their own in an improved final period through Erik Bakalar, Adam Andrews and Richard Slater, but a further three strikes from the Stars rounded off a comprehensive 8-3 victory.

The result means Solihull are still yet to win on the road this season – but they have picked up a couple a valuable draws. Another would be a welcome relief on Sunday when they again travel North, but this time to Lancashire to face the Blackburn Hawks.

Coach tickets can be reserved for the trip by contacting thesolihullbarons@gmail.com at a price of £10 per person with a 2pm departure from HMR.  

Goals: Bakalar, Andrews, R Slater
Assists: Eley, Bakalar (2), Adams
Man of the Match: Rob Eley